Protective Effect Of Oral Administration Research Articles

Ginger Extract Improves Cognitive Dysfunction via Modulation of Gut Microbiota-Derived Short-Chain Fatty Acids in D-Galactose/Ovariectomy-Induced Alzheimer-Like Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia with complex causes and limited treatment options. Recent research has suggested a connection between the progression of AD and the activity of gut microbiota. Ginger, a plant known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties, has gained attention as a potential treatment for alleviating AD symptoms. In this study, we induced an AD model in female rats through ovariectomy and D-galactose injection and then investigated the protective effects of oral administration of ginger ethanolic extract. We assessed changes in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), learning and memory abilities, neuroinflammatory markers in plasma, and the hippocampus, as well as histological changes in the intestine and hippocampus in sham-operated, diseased, and treatment groups. Oral administration of ginger ethanolic extract improved gut microbiota activity, increased SCFA levels, and enhanced the expression of tight junction proteins. Additionally, ginger extract reduced the concentrations of TNF-α and IL-1β in both plasma and the hippocampus. Furthermore, it significantly reduced cell death and amyloid plaque deposition in the hippocampal tissue. These physiological changes resulted in improved performance in learning and memory tasks in rats treated with ginger compared with the disease group. These findings provide compelling evidence for the beneficial effects of ginger on the gut-brain axis, leading to improvements in learning and memory through the reduction of neuroinflammation.

Protective effects of oral administration of lactic acid bacteria strains against methylmercury-induced intestinal toxicity in a murine model

The utilization of lactic acid bacteria has been proposed to mitigate the burden of heavy metal exposure through processes probably involving chelation and reduced metal bioaccessibility. We evaluated the effects of daily intake of two strains of lactobacilli (Lactobacillus intestinalis LE1 or Lactobacillus johnsonii LE2) on intestinal toxicity during methylmercury (MeHg) exposure through drinking water (5 mg/L) for two months in mice. MeHg exposure resulted in inflammation and oxidative stress at the colon, as well as an increase in intestinal permeability accompanied by decreased fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). The administration of the strains resulted in a differential protective effect that, based on their chelation capacity, supported the existence of additional mechanisms of action besides chelation. Both strains reduced IL-1β levels and oxidative stress, while LE1 lowered TNF-α, diminished MeHg-induced mucus over-secretion triggered by the IL-4/IL-13/STAT6 pathway, reduced intestinal permeability, and ameliorated inflammation and oxidative stress, probably by acting on the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway. Administration of LE1 partially restored SCFA contents, which could be partly responsible for the positive effects of this strain in alleviating MeHg toxicity. These results demonstrate that lactobacilli strains can be useful tools in reducing the intestinal toxicity of MeHg, the main mercurial form conveyed by food.

Photoprotective Effects of Processed Ginseng Leaf Administration against UVB-Induced Skin Damage in Hairless Mice.

Although ginseng leaves contain a larger amount of ginsenosides than the roots, studies on the protective effect of oral administration of ginseng leaves against photoaging are lacking. Processed ginseng leaves (PGL) prepared by acid reaction to increase effective ginsenoside content showed higher levels of Rg3 (29.35 mg/g) and Rk1 (35.16 mg/g) than ginseng leaves (Rg3 (2.14 mg/g) and Rk1 (ND)), and ginsenosides Rg3 and Rk1 were evaluated as active ingredients that protected human keratinocytes against UVB-induced cell damage by increasing cell proliferation and decreasing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and 9 secretion. Herein, the effect of oral PGL administration (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg, daily) against photoaging in HR-1 hairless mice was assessed by measuring wrinkle depth, epidermal thickness, and trans-epidermal water loss for 16 weeks. The PGL treatment group showed reduced skin wrinkles, inhibited MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression, and decreased IL-6 and cyclooxygenase-2 levels. These data suggest that oral PGL administration inhibits photoaging by inhibiting the expression of MMPs, which degrade collagen, and inhibiting cytokines, which induce inflammatory responses. These results reveal that ginseng leaves processed by acid reaction may serve as potential functional materials with anti-photoaging activities.

Simvastatin improves learning and memory impairment via gut-brain axis regulation in an ovariectomized/D-galactose Alzheimer's rat model

AimAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia with multiple etiology and no effective remedy. Statins are a group of medicines that are basically used to lower cholesterol. However, several studies have recently done to assess the potential relationship between statins use and dementia but presented controversial results. MethodsIn this study, using ovariectomy and D‐galactose injection, a model of AD was induced in female rats, and then the protective effects of oral administration of simvastatin were investigated. shuttle box and Y-maze tests were done to assess the animals’ learning and memory performance. Using GC-MC, ELISA, Immunohistochemistry and tissue staining techniques, changes in the amount of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), plasma and hippocampus neuroinflammatory markers and histological changes in the intestine and hippocampus were assessed in sham, disease and treatment groups. Key findingsOral administration of simvastatin improved the gut microbiome activity (increased the amount of SCFAs in fecal samples) and strengthened the tight junctions of intestinal cells. Moreover, simvastatin reduced the amount of TNF-α and IL-1β in plasma and hippocampus. Also, cell death and Amyloid plaques notably decreased in the simvastatin-treated hippocampal tissue. All these physiological changes led to better performance in behavioral tasks in the treatment group in comparison to the disease group. SignificanceThese findings provide evidence that simvastatin may improve gut-brain axis followed by improvement in learning and memory via an anti-inflammatory effect.

Lacticaseibacillus paracasei K71 Alleviates UVB-Induced Skin Barrier Dysfunction by Attenuating Inflammation via Increased IL-10 Production in Mice.

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation causes skin barrier dysfunction, leading to decreased water-holding capacity, impaired epidermal barrier function, and increased skin thickness. This study investigates the protective effects of oral administration of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei K71 against skin barrier dysfunction in UVB-irradiated mice. Mice are fed diets with or without K71 and irradiated with UVB three times a week for 12 weeks. Oral administration of K71 suppresses UVB-induced decrease in stratum corneum water content, mitigates the increase of transepidermal water loss, and decreases epidermal thickness of the dorsal skin. Treatment with K71 reverses the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines and the activation of nuclear factor-κB induced by UVB irradiation and upregulates the expression of anti-inflammatory IL-10 in the dorsal skin. Notable upregulation of IL-10 is observed in the spleens of K71-treated mice. K71 treatment enhances IL-10 production in J774.1 macrophages; however, this enhancement is diminished by inhibiting K71 phagocytosis and TLR3. Furthermore, transfection using K71 RNAs significantly increases IL-10 production. These results indicate that K71 may alleviate UVB-induced skin barrier dysfunction by attenuating inflammation via increasing IL-10 production and that K71 RNAs may induce IL-10 production in macrophages. Therefore, K71 may be beneficial for preventing skin barrier dysfunction.

Влияние масла черного тмина на различные звенья гемостаза крыс в условиях экзогенной тромбинемии

Black cumin oil has a rich phytochemical composition and is widely used as a dietary supplement for preventive purposes. However, there is a lack of scientific data on its effect on haemostasis. Thus, the purpose of this paper was to study the nature of the effect of the dietary supplement Ethiopian Black Cumin Oil on the platelet and coagulation components of the coagulation system under experimental thrombinemia. Materials and methods. The research involved 60 white non-inbred male rats. The following haemostasis parameters under exogenous thrombinemia were studied: prothrombin time, thrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, content of fibrinogen and soluble fibrin monomer complexes, antithrombin III activity, total platelet count and the ratio of different forms of platelets. Results. The research showed that pre-administration, in the course of 21 days, of black cumin oil to rats (experimental group) increases their tolerance to thrombin, limiting excessive platelet activation, development of thrombocytopenia and consumption coagulopathy compared with the control group. The data obtained during the experiment revealed a protective effect of oral administration of black cumin oil under provoked hypercoagulation stress. Сonsumption coagulopathy in the test group was less pronounced after 0.5 hours of experimental thrombinemia; after 1 hour, haemostasis parameters returned to baseline values at a faster rate compared to the control. The supposed mechanism behind this effect is the ability of the antioxidants in this dietary supplement to limit the processes of free radical oxidation: black cumin is a combined natural antioxidant rich in flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins and terpene compounds. The results of the research indicate good prospects for further studies into the effect of the dietary supplement Ethiopian Black Cumin Oil on various components of haemostasis as a non-specific agent.

Acacia Senegal Inhibits Diabetic Nephropathy Ultrastructure Alteration and Renal Biomarkers Changes in Rats

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common complication of diabetes. Several studies have been done in a trial to protect against this problem at the ultrastructure level. This study investigates the protective effect of oral administration of Acacia senegal (AS) against the development of DN. Sixty male albino rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, Acacia senegal control, Diabetic untreated, diabetic insulin-treated, Diabetic AS treated, and Diabetic insulin and AS combined treated groups. Plasma glucose, HbA1c, serum Albumin, creatinine, urine creatinine was measured using specific kits. Determinations of creatinine clearance and blood pressure were done. The renal tissues of both kidneys were prepared to investigate under both light (LM) and electron microscope (EM). Ultrastructure examination of renal rats tissue of diabetic untreated rats showed the destruction of the glomerular basement membrane and endothelial cells together with hemorrhage in glomerular capsules (Bowman's capsules). On the other side, both LM and EM revealed improving the endothelial cells and the other glomerular capsules structures, especially with the combined treated group, which confirmed the improvement of the biochemical investigation in the study. In conclusion, from the present study, using the oral AS together with SC insulin could be protected against the development of DN.

Calcium dobesilate protects against d-galactose-induced hepatic and renal dysfunction, oxidative stress, and pathological damage.

Calcium dobesilate (CaD) is used for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy. This agent exerts antioxidant effects. In the present study, we evaluated the protective effects of oral administration of CaD against hepatorenal damages in a mice model of aging induced by d-galactose (d-gal). We used 28 male albino mice, which equally and randomly were divided into four groups as follows: intact, aging (d-gal at the dose of 500 mg/kg, p.o.), aging + CaD 50 (d-gal plus CaD at the dose of 50 mg/kg), and aging + CaD 100 (d-gal plus CaD at the dose of 100 mg/kg, p.o.). All drugs were administered orally once a day for 42 days. The liver and kidney damages were evaluated by measuring mass indices, levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, and activities of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase and by histopathological evaluation. Moreover, hepatic and renal tissue oxidant/antioxidant markers (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) were measured. The results showed that d-gal treatment induced significant oxidative stress in the kidney and liver that was paralleled by dysfunctions and histological alterations of these organs. CaD significantly improved the liver and kidney indices, implemented functional capacity of the liver and kidney, as well as decreased oxidative stress enhancing antioxidative enzyme activities. CaD treatment also inhibited the development of histological alterations of both kidney and liver. CaD might represent a promising therapeutic agent for the attenuation of hepatorenal injuries induced by aging.

Comparative evaluation of the protective effects of oral administration of auraptene and umbelliprenin against CFA-induced chronic inflammation with polyarthritis in rats

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Auraptene (AUR) and Umbelliprenin (UMB) in a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) induced by using complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA).Paw swelling of adjuvant arthritis rats measured at various times after CFA injection. Over 15 days of RA induction, mediator/cytokine-mediated processes involved in managing the regulation and resolving RA's inflammation were also quantified with ELISA. Histopathological changes were also assessed under a microscope 15 days after the CFA injection.AUR at all doses and UMB administration only at a 16 mM /kg administration dose significantly reduced CFA-induced paw edema level compared to the control group. UMB (64 and 32 mM) and AUR (64, 32, and 16 mM) could reduce the PGE2 (p < .0001–.01) and NO (p < .0001–.05) levels in the treatment groups compared to the negative control group. However, these compounds showed no significant effect on the TNF-α, IFN-γ, TGF-β, IL-4, and IL-10 levels than the control group (p > .05). Unlike indomethacin and prednisolone, treatment of rats with AUR (16, 32, and 64 mM/kg) and UMB (16 and 32 mM/kg) reduced the level of IL-2 (p < .0001). In all treatment groups, the serum level of IL-17 was significantly reduced compared to the CFA group (p < .001–0.05).We suggested AUR and UMB could diminish inflammation by reducing the serum level of IL-17 and could be considered a proper alternative in the treatment of IL-17 related inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Given that AUR and UMB apply their anti-inflammatory effects by changing distinct cytokine release/inhibition patterns, their potential application in diverse inflammatory diseases seems different.

Protective effects of Artemisia judaica extract compared to metformin against hepatorenal injury in high-fat diet/streptozotocine-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most dangerous incurable diseases that affects a large number of people worldwide. Artemisia species have various protective activities and are widely used for the control of diabetes in folkloric medicine. Therefore, the current study was designed to illustrate the protective effect of oral administration of Artemisia judaica extract (AjE) against hepatorenal damage in a high-fat diet/streptozotocin (HFD/STZ) rat model of hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia. Animals were divided into five groups-control, AjE, HFD/STZ, HFD/STZ-AjE (300mg/kg), and HFD/STZ-MET (100mg/kg)-and treated daily for 28days. The results revealed that STZ-injected rats showed marked hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia in addition to high levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and low- and high-density lipoproteins compared to control rats. Significant elevations in hepatic (AST and ALT) and renal (urea, uric acid, and creatinine) function markers were observed in the serum of diabetic rats. Additionally, STZ injection caused remarkable elevations in lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide levels as well as suppression of antioxidant markers (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione). Marked elevations in TNF-α and Bax levels with a decline in Bcl-2 levels were detected after STZ injection. Furthermore, TGF-β1 expression levels were significantly upregulated in the liver and kidney tissues. Rats that received AjE or MET showed significant improvement in most of the aforementioned parameters, and the protective efficacy was higher for AjE than for MET. Histopathological screening confirmed the biochemical findings. Conclusively, our results illustrated the antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic activities of AjE against hepatorenal injury in HFD/STZ-induced diabetes.

IMPACT OF BEETROOT (BETA VULGARIS RUBRA) AND/OR SWISS CHARD (BETA VULGARIS CICLA) JUICES ORAL ADMINISTRATION AGAINST BARIUM CHLORIDE-INDUCED HYPOKALEMIA, ATPASE DISTURBANCE, AND HEART AND LUNG TOXICITY IN RATS

Objective: The research designed to explore, for the 1st time, the probable antioxidant activity and protective effect of oral administration of beetroot (Beta vulgaris Rubra) and Swiss chard (B. vulgaris Cicla) juices against barium chloride (BaCl2)-induced toxicity in rats through investigating the changes on complete blood picture, heart and lung oxidative biomarkers, cardiac function tests, inflammatory markers as well as adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity, hypokalemia, and electrolyte disturbances.&#x0D; Methods: Seventy-five adult male albino rats of Sprague-Dawley strains (150±5 g) were divided into five groups (15/each) except healthy control group which contains 10 rats, and BaCl2 control group that contains 20 rats as follows: Group I: Healthy control; Group II: BaCl2 control, and Groups III, IV, and V: BaCl2 intoxicated groups supplemented with 1 ml of beetroot, Swiss chard, and combination of both juices, respectively/kg body weight 3 times per week orally.&#x0D; Results: Results explored that beetroot and Swiss chard juices contain significant amount of polyphenols and flavonoids as well as macro- and micronutrients that improved the complete blood picture, heart and lung oxidative stress parameters, cardiac function tests, inflammatory markers, ATPase activity, hypokalemia, and also electrolyte balance in supplemented groups compared to BaCl2 control group.&#x0D; Conclusion: This search illustrated that fresh beetroot and Swiss chard juices can improve various biochemical abnormalities resulted from BaCl2 toxicity. BaCl2 intoxicated rats that were supplemented with combination of juices showed the most significant improvements.

Protective effect of piperine in ischemia-reperfusion induced acute kidney injury through inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress

Background and aimRenal ischemia-reperfusion is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. As a major compound in black pepper, piperine has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. In present study, the protective effects of oral administration of piperine in renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) induced acute kidney injuries (AKI) were investigated. Experimental procedureMale Wistar rats received piperine (10 or 20 mg/kg.bw) or vehicle for 10 days. The artery and vein of both kidneys were then clamped for 30 min, followed by a 24-h reperfusion period. Concentrations of creatinine and urea-nitrogen in descending aorta blood were measured, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) levels were measured in kidney tissue to evaluate the oxidative stress. Inflammation was evaluated by measuring the TNF-α and ICAM-1 mRNA expression levels in renal cortical tissue using Real Time PCR method and counting leukocytes infiltration to interstitium. Further measured were tissue damages in H & E stained sections. ResultsRenal IR reduced FRAP, while increasing the plasma concentrations of creatinine and urea-nitrogen, tissue MDA level, TNF-α and ICAM-1 mRNA expressions, leukocyte infiltration and histopathologic injuries. Piperine administration significantly reduced the plasma concentrations of creatinine and urea-nitrogen, expression of pro-inflammatory factors, oxidative stress and renal histopathologic injuries. It is to be noted that 20 mg/kg dose was more effective. ConclusionOur results suggest piperine protects the kidney against ischemia-reperfusion induced acute kidney injuries by its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.

Cardioprotective effects induced by hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of Alpinia zerumbet on myocardial infarction in rats

Ethnopharmacology relevanceThe leaves of Alpinia zerumbet is used in folk medicine in Brazil to treat hypertension. However, the cardioprotective effect of this plant has not been studied yet. Aim of this studyTo evaluate the cardioprotective effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of Alpinia zerumbet (AZE) against isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction in rats. Material and methodsRats were pretreated orally with AZE (300 mg/kg) for 30 days prior to ISO-induced myocardial infarction. The rats were sacrificed and hearts were collected and homogenized for biochemical analysis. At the end of the experiment, cardiac marker enzyme levels, histological and morphometric parameters, and hemodynamic measurements were assessed. Phytochemical compounds were verified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). ResultsRats administered with ISO showed a significant increase in cardiac marker enzymes, i.e., in creatine kinase-NAC (CK-NAC) and CK-MB. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining exhibited an increase in infarct areas. In the animals treated with ISO induced a significant increase in heart rate. Pretreatment with AZE significantly inhibited these effects of ISO. Moreover, biochemical findings were supported by histopathological observations. The GC-MS analyses of AZE identified volatile oils, kavalactones, and phytosterols. ConclusionsHaemodynamic, biochemical alteration and histopathological results suggest a cardioprotective protective effect of oral administration of AZE in isoproterenol induced cardiotoxicity.

Mitigating effect of Avicenna marina on indomethacin induced gastric ulcer in male albino rats

The aqueous extract of Avicenna marina (AM) has been suggested to be useful in the treatment of various diseases. In this study, the protective effect of oral administration of Avicenna marina extract against oxidative gastric mucosal injury induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), indomethacin in rats was investigated. The aqueous extract of Avicenna marina was given by oral gavages (125 mg /kg) three times at 12 h intervals before administering indomethacin (20 mg/kg). The level of prostaglandin (PGE2) and pH gradient were markedly decreased following indomethacin treatment, with increase in acid volume. In addition, tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and the lipid peroxidation products malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly increased 6 h after oral administration of indomethacin in rats gastric mucosa indicating acute inflammatory injury. Pretreatment with AM abolished indomethacin induced elevation of TNF-α, TGF-β1 and MAD levels. In indomethacin-treated rats, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities as well as reduced glutathione (GSH) content were significantly diminished in gastric mucosa. However, pre-administration with AM maintains the level of these parameters near to the control value. Thus, these results indicate the effective anti-peroxidative and preventive actions of AM against indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal damage.

Evaluation of antigens stability of tobacco seeds as edible vaccine against VTEC strains

Plants have represent a promising alternative for biopharmaceutical proteins (Ma et al., 2003; Rossi et al., 2014). Many plant based edible vaccines have been shown to be effective in inducing local immune responses ( Rossi et al., 2013). Edible vaccines can activate both mucosal and systemic immunity, as they come in contact with the digestive tract lining. This dual effect would provide first-line defense against pathogens invading through the mucosa. The antigens are released in the intestines are taken up by M cells that are present over the Payer’s patches (in the ileum) and the gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Edible vaccines represent an important worldwide goal for the prevention of the enteric diseases, also in livestock. In particular, the enteric infections are a significant clinical problem in pigs. Verocytotoxic Escherichia (E.) coli strains are responsible for serious enterotoxaemia that causes important economic losses in the pig industry. The production of a vaccine for oral administration of transgenic seeds could be a practical and efficient system to prevent the infection and to reduce the antibiotic use. This study was focused on tobacco plants, previously transformed by agroinfection for the seed-specific expression of antigenic proteins (F18 adhesive fimbriae and the B subunit of the Vt2e toxin) as model of edible vaccines against verocytotoxic E. coli strains. The dietary administration of transgenic tobacco seeds promotes a significant increase in the number of mucosal IgA-producing cells of the tunica propria in both small and large intestine in mice ( Rossi et al., 2013). A protective effect of oral administration of transgenic tobacco seeds was also observed against verocytotoxic Escherichia coli infection in piglets (Rossi et al., 2014). The aim of this study was to assess the seed-expression stability, that is a important requirement in the vaccine production, of F 18 and Vt2e-B heterologous genes into the progeny of transformed tobacco plants.

Oral tributyrin prevents endotoxin-induced lipid metabolism disorder

Sepsis leads to dysregulation of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. Butyrate increases peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), which are key nuclear hormone receptors to induce fatty acid oxidation and synthesis. Oral administration of tributyrin, a prodrug of butyrate contained in dairy products, suppresses lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury through attenuating nuclear factor-κB activity with an increased hepatoportal butyrate level. In this study, we elucidated the protective effect of oral administration of tributyrin against LPS-mediated lipid metabolism disorder in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided and were administered tributyrin or vehicle orally 1h before LPS injection and then sacrificed at 0, 1.5, 6, and 24h after LPS. Liver tissue expressions of nuclear hormone receptors, enzymes associated with fatty acid metabolism, and histone acetylation were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction or western blotting. Plasma lipids levels were measured. Tributyrin enhanced expression of PPARs and histone H3 in the liver at basal levels. Tributyrin suppressed LPS-induced repression of PPARs fatty acid oxidation-associated enzymes: fatty acid transport protein and fatty acid binding protein, and fatty acid synthesis-associated enzyme: sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c. Tributyrin reduced the increase in plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels at 24h after LPS injection. Oral tributyrin administration prevented elevation of plasma triglyceride, TC, and LDL-C levels through improved fatty acid oxidation in endotoxemic rats.

Oral administration of Allium sativum extract protects against infectious bursal disease in chickens

Garlic (Allium sativum, Liliaceae) has been safely used for more than 5000 years, and research on garlic extract is rapidly increasing because of its multiple biological functions. The in vivo effects of oral administration of garlic mixture (GM, water-soluble extract) on infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV)-infected specific pathogen free male white leghorn chicken were examined through histopathological, immunohistochemical, and Western blot analyses, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results confirmed the protective effects of oral administration of 5 mg$kg BW GM (Group GM1) on bursal lesions after IBDV infection. In particular, protein expression of IBDV in the bursa decreased in Group GM1, indicating that GM administration decreased IBDV replication in the bursa. Furthermore, immunoglobulin Mand A-bearing B lymphocytes significantly increased 7 days post infection in bursae in Group GM1 (P< 0.01), suggesting that the oral administration of 5 mg$kg GM offers moderate protection against B cell destruction after IBDV infection. During infection, the concentration of bursal interferon gamma (IFN-g) increased and peaked in Group GM1 earlier than in Group T (IBDV-exposed), demonstrating that GM administration prompted the production of IFN-g to protect against IBDV infection.

Protective effects of oral administration of yeast thioredoxin against gastric mucosal injury.

Thioredoxin (TRX) is a redox regulating protein which has protective effects against oxidative stress-induced damage to cells and tissues. In this study, we investigated the effects of orally administered TRX derived from edible yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, on gastric mucosa. First, we examined the digestibility of orally administered yeast TRX in mice, and detected yeast TRX in the stomach for 4 h after administration. Next, we investigated the mitigation of gastric mucosal injury after the oral administration of yeast TRX in water-immersion restraint stress and HCl/ethanol-induced gastric ulcer models. Furthermore, we conducted DNA microarray analysis, using the HCl/ethanol-induced model, which revealed that several groups of genes related to tissue repair were upregulated in ulcer regions in the stomachs of rats administered with yeast TRX. These results demonstrated the viability of the use of oral administrations of yeast TRX to protect the gastric mucosa.

Protective effect of oral administration of transgenic tobacco seeds against verocytotoxic Escherichia coli strain in piglets

The use of transgenic plants as delivery system for antigenic proteins is attractive for its simplicity and increases likelihood for local immune response at sites of infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of oral administration of tobacco seeds, expressing the FedA, the major protein of the F18 adhesive fimbriae, and B subunit of verocytotoxin, against verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) strain in piglets. Forty-three early weaned piglets, were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups: 3 test groups and a control. Treatment groups orally received a bolus, with different dose of tobacco seeds on 0, 1, 2, 14 days post primary administration. After challenge, with 1*10(10) CFU of O138 Escherichia coli strain, piglets showed clinical scores significantly higher in the control group compared to orally immunized groups (P < 0.05) and the latter showed a faster recovery than in CG. In conclusion, oral administration of recombinant tobacco seeds expressing antigenic proteins against VTEC strains can induce a protective effect against challenger strain in piglets.

Effect of cadmium-polluted water on plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and oxidative status biomarkers in rats: Protective effect of curcumin

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of CdCl₂-polluted drinking water (40 mg CdCl₂/L) on the level of TNF-α and IL-6, as well as oxidative status biomarkers in plasma of rats. The possible protective effect of oral administration of curcumin (50 mg/kg body weight/day) was assessed. Results illustrated that Cd exposure significantly elevated the plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-6 (p<0.001) as compared to normal rats. Also, Cd administration resulted in a significant elevation in the lipid peroxidation and markedly reduction in the activities of SOD and catalase as well as the level of glutathione and total antioxidant capacity in plasma. The co-treatment of Cd with curcumin significantly reduced the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 and ameliorated the alteration in oxidative status biomarkers induced by Cd. Negative correlation between IL-6 or TNF-α was and the plasma activities of catalase, SOD and the level of total antioxidant capacity were found in rats exposed to Cd. Cadmium toxicity induced the release of TNF-α and IL-6 which is associated with systemic oxidative stress. This may be involved in the mechanism of the Cd toxicity. On the other hand, the findings suggest the curative action of curcumin against Cd toxicity.